Presidents, Politics and the Playwright’s Vision

October 6, 2014– [Milwaukee] –Milwaukee Repertory Theater will host a special fundraising luncheon featuring Rick Cleveland, Emmy-winning writer and co-producer of such shows as House of Cards and The West Wing and playwright of The Rep’s 2014/15 Season World Premiere production of Five Presidents.

The event is set for Monday, November 3, 2014 at the Pfister Hoteland begins at 11:30am. The luncheon is open to the public, RSVPs required.

Cleveland, who as co-executive producer of House of Cards kept millions guessing at the political actions of Kevin Spacey’s Frank Underwood character, has writing credits that also include Six Feet Under, Mad Men, and Nurse Jackie. Cleveland will share his insights in creating Five Presidents, a Milwaukee Rep World Premiere running March 10 – April 5, 2015 in The Rep’s Quadracci Powerhouse theater.

Five Presidents is a funny and incisive drama about the meeting of America’s most exclusive club – the ex-presidents. Obliged to gather together on the day of Richard Nixon’s funeral, four “exes” and one “current” vent frustrations, revisit old grievances, and reveal the toll that it takes on any person foolish enough to seek the highest office in the land.

“Rick Cleveland is an exciting American voice in theatre, film and TV,” Artistic Director Mark Clements noted. “We are thrilled to have him join us to present an insider’s view of how a world premiere play moves from the initial idea to the stage. As one of the lead writers on shows like The West Wing and House of Cards, I feel certain he will have some great anecdotes to share about writing on themes of political ambition and presidential power.”

Individual tickets for “A Milwaukee Rep Insider’s Luncheon” are $75 per person. VIP tickets, which include a private reception with Rick Cleveland prior to the luncheon, are $150. A tax-deductible portion of all ticket purchases will support The Rep’s New Play Development Program. Reservations can be made through The Rep’s Development Events Manager at 414-290-5347 or insiderlunch@milwaukeerep.com.

Rick Cleveland has earned playwriting grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Kennedy Center’s Fund for New American Plays. He received his MFA from University of Iowa’s Playwrights’ Workshop. His screenplay credits include Runaway Jury and Jerry and Tom, an official selection at both the Sundance and Toronto Film Festivals.

Five Presidentsis a co-production with the Arizona Theatre Company.

For more information about The Rep’s production of Five Presidents or to purchase tickets, please visit www.MilwaukeeRep.com or call The Rep’s Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater is a nationally-recognized company that presents compelling dramas, powerful classics, award-winning contemporary works, full-scale musicals, housed in its three unique performance venues – the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio and Stackner Cabaret. The Rep also produces an annual production of A Christmas Carol at the beautiful and historic Pabst Theater. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Managing Director Chad Bauman, The Rep is committed to creating plays that are meaningful and relevant to the society we live in – plays that are challenging, visceral and engage the community through the issues they explore, demonstrating how a theater deeply rooted in its locality can also enjoy a richly influential and resonant national voice.

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